73,780 EU nationals in Scotland left in limbo, Lib Dems warn

Scottish Liberal Democrats are calling for EU citizens to be given the automatic right to stay in the UK, as new official figures show73,780 EU nationals living inScotland have not been granted permanent Settled Status to remain in the UK.

Pointing to the contribution of EU nationals working in the NHS during the Covid-19 crisis, Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine urged the Government to "show its own support for the people's heroes by extending the right to remain to all EU and foreign nationals, many of whom are fighting for our lives."

Of the 173,090 EU nationals across Scotland who have applied for permanent residency, only 97,710 have been granted settled status.

14,410 EU nationals living in Scotland have applied to the Home Office scheme but are still waiting for a final decision to be made. Another 59,370 have been given only temporary Pre-Settled Status, meaning they will have to reapply within five years or be forced to leave the UK.

Although the Home Office has announced a one-year visa extensionsfor certain health and care staff, the Liberal Democrats have secured cross-party support for their campaign to give all health and social care workers on the frontline of this crisis indefinite leave to remain.

Liberal Democrat Home Affairs Spokesperson Christine Jardine said:

"The coronavirus crisis is an unprecedented threat. NHS staff, social care workers and other health professionals are putting themselves in harm's way each and every day to keep us safe.

"The Government has a chance to show its own support for the people's heroes by extending the right to remain to all EU and foreign nationals, many of whom are fighting for our lives during the Covid-19 pandemic."